12-2 Mongul Empire

The Civilizations of East Asia

Section 2: The Mongol Empire

In this section

1. You will learn how the Mongol invaders were able to conquer and rule most of Asia.

2. You will also find out about the effects of Mongol rule on China.

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Vocabulary

Genghis Khan: Fierce Mongol leader who created an immenseempire in the early 1200s

Kublai Khan: Grandson of Genghis Khan who conquered the rest of China, Tibet, and part of Southeast Asia

Batu: Grandson of Genghis Khan troops swept across Russia, Poland and Hungary in the 1200s, plundering cities

Golden Horde: Name given by Europeans to the Mongol invaders of the 1200s due to the golden color of their tents in the sun

Marco Polo: Italian explorer who traveled to China, was employed by Kublai Khan, and wrote a book describing China to Europeans

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Focus Questions

1. How were the Mongol nomads able to conquer so much of Asia?

2. What were the good and bad effects of Mongol rule in China?

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Section 2 Summary

The Mongols lived north of China in the rugged steppe region now called Mongolia. Their culture encouraged the skills of battle. Leaders could mobilize much of the population for war. At its height, the Mongol army had 100,000 cavalry. Mounted warriors could cover 100 miles in a day. Special saddles and stirrups allowed them to fire arrows accurately while riding at top speed. Mongol riders were fast and mobile.

Mongol armies were skilled in using firepower. They would wear enemies down through constant attacks or threats. Soldiers acquired riches, honor, and personal power through battle. Mongol generals were very capable.

The fiercest Mongol leader was Genghis Khan, who created an immense empire. In the early 1200s the Mongols under Genghis Khan swept into northern China and captured what is now Beijing. They then conquered Central Asia and most of Persia.

Led by Kublai (KOO·bluh) Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, they conquered the rest of China, Tibet, and part of Southeast Asia.

Another grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu, invaded Europe in the 1200s. His troops swept across Russia, Poland and Hungary, plundering the cities and killing or enslaving inhabitants. Europeans called the invaders the Golden Horde because of the gold color of the Mongol tents in the sun. The Mongols controlled Russia for almost 200 years.

The Mongol Empire was divided into four parts, which began to drift apart. In 1260 Kublai Khan received the title of Great Khan, head of the Mongol Empire. He adopted many Chinese ways and relied on middle-level Chinese officials. In 1271 Kublai Khan established his own dynasty, called the Yuan dynasty. Yuan forces defeated the Sung dynasty in southern China. China prospered under Mongol rule. A century of war ended.

The population, which had dropped, began to grow again. Kublai Khan extended the Grand Canal to supply his new capital with food from the south. He fostered trade routes to India and Persia. Relay riders carried messages throughout the empire. This communication system helped unify the empire. But heavy taxes created hardships for farmers and merchants. Over time, the emperors’ harsh taxes caused growing resentment toward Mongol rulers. During Mongol rule, contact between China and the rest of the world increased.

The Italian merchant and explorer Marco Polo went to China. At age seventeen he left Venice with his father and uncle. After three years of hard travel they arrived in China. Kublai Khan was impressed with Marco Polo and employed him as his special representative. Polo traveled around China for 17 years, and then wrote a book describing China to fellow Europeans.

Although the Yuan dynasty had benefits, tensions grew between the Mongols and the Chinese. They spoke different languages, and the Mongols did not treat the Chinese as equals. Only Mongols could hold important government positions. Mongol law punished Chinese criminals more harshly. After Kublai Khan died, the Huang River flooded, destroying crops and causing famine. Rebellions sprang up. Finally the Yuan dynasty was overthrown.

1. How were the Mongol nomads able to conquer so much of Asia?

• The Mongols were able to conquer so much of Asia because they could mobilize much of their population for war, and they had a huge cavalry with great speed and mobility. They were highly skilled in the use of massed firepower, rapid movements and maneuvers. They wore down enemies through constant attacks or threats, and used powerful weapons. Soldiers were motivated to fight to acquire riches, honor, and personal power. Finally, Mongol generals were very capable.

2. What were the good and bad effects of Mongol rule in China?

• The good effects of Mongol rule in China were peace and improvements to communications, transportation, and trade. The bad effects of Mongol rule included heavy taxes that weakened the economy and created hardships for farmers and merchants. Also, the Mongols did not treat the Chinese people as equals and punished Chinese more harshly than non-Chinese.